Trump's Kiss of Life

[Celerity]

Canada’s Mark Carney, Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, and maybe even Britain’s Keir Starmer can thank Trump for reviving their sagging fortunes. Viktor Orbán, not so much.

https://prospect.org/2026/04/13/trumps-kiss-of-life-carney-frederiksen-starmer-orban/


Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, takes part in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, at the Canadian embassy in Paris, January 6, 2026. Credit: Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP

On Sunday, Hungarian voters overwhelmingly repudiated Viktor Orbán, Donald Trump’s favorite European leader, despite extensive gerrymandering and substantial control of the media. In a record turnout, the opposition Tisza Party won more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats, enough to reverse changes to the constitution Orbán made during his tenure. Five days before the election, Trump sent JD Vance to Budapest, where Vance spoke at an Orbán rally, declaring, “We have got to get Viktor Orbán re-elected as prime minister of Hungary, don’t we?” This was followed by a Trump social media post pledging, “We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!” The Trump bear hug backfired. For most politicians outside MAGA-land, even fellow autocrats like Orbán, Trump’s endorsement is the kiss of death.

But for his opponents in other Western democracies, the chance to resist Trump has been the kiss of life. Consider Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister. She was in very big trouble for re-election until Trump threw her a lifeline in the form of his lunatic threat to invade Greenland. Frederiksen, a Social Democrat, rallied Danish pride and stood up to Trump. “If the United States decides to attack another NATO country, then everything would stop—that includes NATO and therefore post–World War II security,” she warned. She organized all the major European leaders to support the Danes. Her coalition narrowly won a surprise victory in the March 24 election. Trump, mired in Iran, has stopped talking about Greenland, at least for now.

Or take the case of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Two years ago, Carney was known mainly as a central banker (of both Canada and Britain), with no experience in politics. Today, he is the most popular Canadian since maybe Wayne Gretzky. When Carney won the Liberal Party election in March 2025 to succeed the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberals were in big trouble. The Conservative Party candidate, Pierre Poilievre, a Canadian Trump wannabe, was leading in the polls. But then Trump turned Carney into a national hero. Trump proposed annexing Canada as the 51st state. The controversy and strong opposition to Trump propelled the Liberals back into office, with Carney as prime minister.

Speaking directly to Trump, in a May 2025 Oval Office meeting, Carney pointedly said, “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.” Canada, he added, is “not for sale, won’t be for sale, ever.” After Carney commenced trade negotiations with China, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada of 100 percent. Carney retaliated. Public opinion has shifted to the Liberals at a record rate. Today, Carney’s approval ratings are around 58 percent. The Canadians used to be our docile good neighbor. Thanks to Trump, they have found a new national purpose and pride. When Carney and the Liberals won in April 2025, they fell just short of a parliamentary majority, and he had to lead a minority government. Today, there are three by-elections for Parliament and Carney’s Liberals are poised to gain an absolute majority.

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